Are you a signposting facilitator?

Today has been a measuring day. This week I purchased a "proper" 30m tape measure and took it on a trip to London to size up some big spaces for a range of Inky Thinking projects over the coming months - but that's not the reason I am writing this post.

When leaving, at the DLR station, I came across this sign on the floor indicating where to touch in before the journey. If you travel through train stations and airports etc. then you'll have seen these signs regularly - they're nothing new.

Being a Sunday the frequency of service was reduced, and so I had time to ponder over this sign for a while in the sun. It made me wonder about signposting in meetings and how, as facilitators, our role is to act as a signpost for meeting participants, enabling them to make their journey through the conversation.

Signposting can mean a variety of things, such as indicating the meeting's direction of travel (see what I did there?) like the purpose and outcomes, or surfacing where a tension or conflict may exist and the possible options to explore it. Signposting as a facilitator doesn't have to be visual either, although using visual tools is certainly a big help. David Sibbet of The Grove Consultants once described the facilitator as the "human cursor" indicating to participants what is, or might be important throughout the meeting, in service of the group's objectives.

As you go into your meetings this week consider how you are performing the role of "signpost" for your meeting participants. How will you indicate to the group what's important, where a tension might exist or a decision needs to be made? What does being the "human cursor" mean in your meetings?

I'll finish with a sign that I saw in Brussels. I've never seen a road sign for a hot dog van before. Facilitators are also signposts for breaks and the things that keep participants refreshed and energised too. A small element to the meeting but important nonetheless.

If you happen to be wondering about the banner image at the top of this post, it is my son Oli playing the role of human signpost (or rather a cone) when our car broke down on the journey back from university for the summer. I never thought a cone fancy dress outfit would actually come in handy, and it goes to show that some student "fashion" decisions can actually prove to be quite inspired.